Thank you for a wonderful first semester of learning at Hill School. This month in our Social Emotional Learning lessons, we are focused on gratitude, compassion and developing friendships. Our counselors led our school in the Look for the Good Project, culminating in our campus Gratitude Wall with over 1,000 students/staff/community members sharing their gratitude with others. We worked with our PTA to place positive signs around the school, encouraging students to “look for the good” and praise and celebrate each others’ strengths. Check out the new banner on our yellow brick wall, which celebrates students being kind and nice to each other!
One way we show compassion during this time of the year is by giving to others. We are grateful for those in our school community who help those in need through our Hill Families Helping Hill Families Program. Many thanks to our counselors and parents who organized the donations to support our families during the holidays. Our fifth graders also led our campus this semester in a food and clothing drive. Through our PTA, we are continuing our Weekend Backpack Program, to help families in need with food over the weekend. Many thanks to all of our students and families who are caring for others and supporting these wonderful programs.
The Hill Campus Architectural Team met again in December to review the educational specifications for modern learning environments in AISD. These new Ed Specs will be used by the CAT in the Spring semester as we begin work on the modernization process for Hill School. Starting in January, the CAT will be meeting with the architectural team selected to implement the 2017 Bond Work.
In January, we have a few teaching changes that we would like to share with you. Alli Sanchez, first grade teacher, will be moving to teach special education at Hill as part of the SCORES program. We are excited that Ms. Sanchez is taking on this important role. We welcome Katlyn Simon as our new first grade teacher at Hill. Ms. Simon is a recent graduate from Baylor University and comes to Hill with student teaching experience in kindergarten, 1stand 3rdgrades. Welcome to Hill, Ms. Simon!
In the Spring Semester we will begin the process of looking towards the 2019-2020 school year. Tuition Pre-K registration will begin on January 2, as well as online registration for new and continuing students. Contact Teresa Carroll at Teresa.carroll@austinisd.orgor (512) 414-4267 with any questions/concerns.
We hope your family has a restful Winter Holiday Break. I’ll be staying in the Austin area, but will look for Hill Dillos everywhere I go! Dillo Cheers for now!!
Want to stay ahead of your health and wellness during the challenging holiday season full of sweets and treats? Then join your students in doing the Winter Wellness Challenge. All students received the tracking sheet in their Wednesday folder this week — it’s green! Help them to complete and track their healthy habits throughout the winter break. Turn in a completed and signed form to Coach Schafer by Tuesday, January 8th to be eligible for prize drawings! Need a new form, follow this link https://goo.gl/ocLHBs. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!!!
We hope everyone has a wonderful Winter Break! Enjoy this time with your family and friends.
January 7th: Back to School!!
Volunteer to support science education at Hill! Middle school students are also welcome as science night volunteers.
Science Fair Judges: (8-11am) We need 25 parents to judge science fair posters for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Eighteen projects will advance to the regional science fair in February. No experience is needed and training is provided the morning of the event.
Science Night Presenters: (6-7:30pm) Do you have a technical background or just love science? Present an idea or a hands-on experiment!
Music Petting Lab: We need instruments (electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion, string instruments etc.) and volunteers for a hands-on music experience.
Instrument Maker Lab: Craft lovers – help students build a musical instrument to take home.
Concession Stand: Help out with popcorn, candy, and beverage sales.
Sign up at sciencefair@hillelementary.com
Are you available during the school day for 30 minutes per week? We are looking for parent volunteers to help 1st and 2nd graders who need a little extra help in math. Various time slots available throughout the day. Please email Caroline (linamarquis@gmail.com) if you are interested in helping. Thank you!
Fall Boxtop Contest Winners are here! The top 10 classes will get to choose a fun event, like pajama day or extra recess to help celebrate their accomplishment. The winning classes are:
In 5th grade, Mr. Mayer with 207
In 1st grade, Ms. Sanchez with 208
In 3rd grade, Ms. Guevara with 228
In 1st grade, Ms. Stanley with 230
In 5th grade, Ms. Cotten with 267
In 4th grade, Ms. Brown with 323
In 4th grade, Ms. Massingill with 324
In 4th grade, Ms. Davis with 375
In 2nd grade, Ms. Shaver with 387
In 2nd grade, Ms. Huang with 428
With all of your hard work clipping, everybody wins! The Grand Total # of Boxtops contributed during the Fall Contest is 6,506! That means $650 of free money for Hill. Great work and keep on clipping! The next contest is already under way. A big Dillo Cheer for all of the folks who helped count Boxtops: Stephanie Faigley, Sarah Newton, Misti Neese, Michelle Kelly, Amy Whiteaker, and Aubree Friesenhahn. Thank you!!
Hill Elementary will begin accepting nominations for gifted and talented program beginning January 14-February 1 for grades K-2. We will be hosting a meeting in the spring for K-2 nominations. If you would like to learn more about the GT identification process please come to the GT Parent Information Meeting on Thursday, January 10, 6:00-7:00pm in the Hill Library. For more information about the Austin ISD gifted program, please visit the Austin ISD web site https://www.austinisd.org/advanced-academics.
Hill GT Advocates:
Sheila Wessels, Sheila.wessels@austinisd.org
Stephanie Winfrey, stephanie.winfrey@austinisd.org
Yearbooks On Sale! Order Now!
Go to www.balfour.com
Click yearbooks and select Hill Elementary, IN AUSTIN
Purchase a yearbook online by using a credit or debit card.
5th Grade Ads on sale now! Commemorate your 5th graders time at Hill with a dedication Ad.
1.Visit www.balfour.com and find Hill Elementary (IN AUSTIN).
2.Click the “Yearbook Ads” icon and select the size ad you want to purchase
3.Create an account. (name, email and password)
4.Enter student’s first and last name and click CREATE NEW AD.
5.Choose ad and design
6.Upload your photos and design the Ad.
7.Click ADD TO CART and checkout. The ad will be delivered to the yearbook staff.
**The Yearbook staff cannot see Ads that are incomplete. You must complete your ad and pay for before it will be entered into the Yearbook. Ads are first come first serve. When the designated pages are filled the Ads will be sold out.
The Lost and Found will be brought to the front of the school for the last week before winter break. Please peruse the racks for your family’s items, take them home and label them. On Thursday afternoon, items found in the past week will be held aside, and at 3:15 all remaining items will be free for families to take what they need. At 4:45 all remaining items will be donated.
New Parent Tours
Kindergarten Playdates
Kindergarten Storytime
Dates have been posted!
Go to: https://www.hillelementary.com/parents/new-parents/
